RunFastAbout the race
The Kilimanjaro Marathon, billed as "The People's Race" (Mbio Ya Watu), is an annual road race in Moshi, Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Since January 2023 its official designation has been the Kilimanjaro International Marathon.
History and organiser
The organiser says 2027 is the 25th anniversary of the race. It is run by Wild Frontiers Events, a South African company, and its home page says it draws around 11,000 runners from many nationalities. The organiser has also made charitable handovers from the event, including a donation toward treatment for children with cancer in 2023.
Distances
There are three categories: the 42.2 km marathon, the 21.1 km half marathon and a 5 km fun run.
The 2027 edition
The organiser's home page gives a new race date of 7 February 2027 and invites entries. It also notes that the 2027 full marathon is an official Comrades Marathon qualifier, which matters to South African runners hoping to enter that race. Its menu links to route maps for 2027, race number collection, an entries section with fees, group entries and travel packages.
Entry basics
Entry is online through the organiser's entries pages. Check the organiser's site for time limits and the entry deadline. The site also mentions an international measurement certificate page and a certificate of completion page.
The course
The organiser publishes 2027 route maps for the three distances, which are the place to check the start, finish and any climbs.
Where to watch
The organiser's menu includes a "People's Expo" in Moshi, which shows the event has a public side in the town. Check the organiser for spectator details and start times for each distance.
Weather
Moshi sits beneath the mountain, and its district has a long rainy season, known locally as masika. Conditions near Kilimanjaro can change, so treat this as general background, not a forecast, and look at current guidance close to race week.